A study of 1,801 hospital admissions finds that influenza A, RSV and rhinovirus are linked to different lung conditions, while the combined spread of respiratory viruses offers a stronger signal of hospital demand.
A new study published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology has found that common respiratory viruses are associated with different lung conditions, while their combined spread may help hospitals better predict seasonal patient demand.
Researchers examined 1,801 hospital admissions for acute respiratory infections between November 2019 and March 2020, before the widespread emergence of COVID-19. The study explored how different viruses, patient age and environmental factors were linked to respiratory illnesses.
Different Viruses, Different Illnesses
The findings showed that influenza A was strongly associated with pneumonia. Among patients infected with influenza A alone, 76.5% were admitted with pneumonia. The virus reached its peak during the fifth epidemiological week of 2020, accounting for 33% of infections tested at that time.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was mainly linked to bronchiolitis, a condition that causes inflammation in the small airways, particularly in infants. Human rhinovirus (HRV), meanwhile, was frequently associated with worsening asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Age also played an important role in determining how respiratory infections affected patients. Infants younger than one year accounted for more than 90% of bronchiolitis admissions evaluated alongside influenza A testing.
Combined Viral Activity Helps Predict Hospital Demand
One of the study’s key findings was that the combined circulation of respiratory viruses closely followed overall hospital admissions. Researchers reported a correlation coefficient of 0.88, indicating a strong relationship between viral activity and hospital demand.
This suggests that monitoring several respiratory viruses together may help healthcare facilities prepare for seasonal increases in patients more effectively than tracking a single virus.
The researchers also examined air pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter. However, after adjustments, none showed a consistent independent association with hospital admissions for acute respiratory infections.
Findings Could Support Hospital Planning
The study’s authors cautioned that the research covered only five months and that some respiratory conditions can be difficult to distinguish, particularly in young children. The findings also do not establish that viral activity directly causes changes in hospital admissions.
Despite these limitations, the study highlights the importance of tracking overall respiratory virus activity to support hospital planning, staffing and patient care during peak infection seasons.
The research suggests that understanding which viruses are circulating, alongside patients’ ages and symptoms, could help healthcare teams anticipate seasonal pressures and prepare resources more effectively.
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